Reproductive Response of Japanese Quail to Varietal Grape Diets

Abstract

Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) were fed semi-purified diets containing 50% grapes for two complete generations. 'Thompson Seedless', 'Concord', and 'Siegfried' ('Riesling' x 'Oberlin 595') were freeze-dried, and the seeds were removed and finely chopped prior to incorporation into separate experimental diets. Control diets contained cornstarch substituted for the grapes. Eggs produced from breeding quail fed the grape diets were all similar to the controls in fertility, hatchability, and egg shell thickness. Developing embryos and hatched offspring were normal. The second generation of quail, fed diets identical to those of their parents, exhibited normal growth and development. Total inorganic minerals (bone ash) of all the quail were similar. Female quail had greater liver weights and liver lipids, and smaller adrenal glands, than the males, regardless of dietary treatment.